Industrial Visit - Munnar & Kochi
An enriching industrial visit to Munnar and Kochi was conducted from 11th to 14th September 2025, with 52 students accompanied by 4 faculty coordinators. The trip provided valuable exposure to real-world industrial operations, linking academic concepts to practical applications.
Day 1 – Munnar Industrial Visit (12th September 2025)
The first stop was the Kanan Devan Hills Plantations Company Pvt. Ltd., one of Munnar’s oldest and most prominent tea manufacturing units. Students received a guided tour of the plant and observed the key stages of tea production:
- Withering: Freshly plucked tea leaves were spread to reduce moisture content.
- Rolling: Leaves were rolled to break cell walls and release enzymes.
- Fermentation: Rolled leaves were left in a climate-controlled area to develop aroma and flavor.
- Drying and Sorting: Fermented leaves were dried to halt oxidation, graded by size, and packed for auction or export.
In addition to production techniques, students gained insights into branding, marketing, and export strategies, understanding the tea industry’s significant role in Kerala’s economy and tourism.
Day 2 – Kochi Industrial Visit (13th September 2025)
The second visit was to Kerala Agro Machinery Corporation Ltd. (KAMCO), a leading public sector enterprise established in 1973. Students explored:
- Manufacturing Operations: Assembly lines for agricultural machinery, quality testing processes, and R&D initiatives.
- Market Reach: KAMCO’s distribution network across India and its exports to international markets.
- Contribution to Rural Development: Mechanization in agriculture reduces manual labor, increases productivity, and directly benefits rural farmers.
The experience allowed students to connect theoretical knowledge of production, operations management, and public sector industrialization with practical, real-world examples.
Key Outcomes of the Industrial Visit
The visit enabled students to:
- Gain first-hand exposure to tea production processes and understand its value chain from leaf collection to final packing.
- Understand KAMCO’s manufacturing systems and socio-economic impact.
- Appreciate the culture, geography, and tourism potential of Kerala, which influence industrial development.
- Develop team spirit, leadership, and coordination skills through shared learning experiences.
The industrial visit to Munnar and Kochi proved to be a highly informative and memorable experience, blending academic learning with cultural and industrial insights.
